NHER 43306 (Monument record) - World War Two military site south of Great Yarmouth College, Southtown

March 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A World War Two military site is visible as a group of structures, earthworks and areas of disturbed ground on aerial photographs (S1)-(S4), centred at TG 5224 0633. Only a proportion of the features at the site is clearly visible on the consulted aerial photographs, and consequently it is difficult to discern its precise function. The rather disorganised layout of the various installations and an absence of ancillary structures such as accommodation huts may reflect the site’s use as a military training area. At the same time, some elements, such as the postulated searchlight emplacement described below, may have had a genuine defensive role. There is no evidence on recent aerial photographs of the site that any part of it now survives above ground.

The most prominent features at the site were two air raid shelters visible on the northeastern edge of the area (at TG 5226 0640). These medium sized shelters were probably earth-covered surface structures or were perhaps semi-sunken. Each had a revetted entrance at its east end and a ventilation shaft or similar structure towards its west end. To their north were two slit trenches (at TG 5225 0643 and TG 5225 0645). To the west (at TG 5220 0643), a circular mound surrounding a central pit may have been a searchlight emplacement or (less probably) a gun emplacement. A rectangular bank immediately to its north was probably an associated feature, perhaps an earth-covered structure. The function of a small, vertical structure to the south (at TG 5220 0641) is not known. Further to the south again (at TG 5221 0637) was a triangular arrangement of three patches of disturbed ground (the extent of the group has been mapped by the NMP). What caused this disturbance is not known; the area may indicate the former presence of one or more structures. A small rectangular structure, perhaps a hut, is visible immediately to the west on aerial photographs taken in March 1944 (S1). Four large pits visible further to the south (at TG 5226 0627) were probably bomb craters, although some could instead by weapons pits. Three small slit trenches visible at the southern end of the site (around TG 5228 0622) were probably the product of training activity.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 8 March 2006.